St. Landry democrat., 1887-02-12
THE FORD CASE.

astray with John C.. kirkpatrick drug
gist's clerk at that place. DR.. Ford
knew of their intimacy then, but did
not resort to violence, though he had
several interviews with kirkpatrick on
the subject. About last June Mrs.
Ford left her husband and departed
from Shreveport, and Kirkpatrick left
there near the same time. Subsequent
" they met in New Orleans, and were
there boarding at the same house last
November, when DR.. Ford suddenly
appeared there and shot and killed
kirkpatrick in manner that made the
killing legally murder, in probably its
most aggravated form, assassination.
DR.. Ford was indicted for murder On
the day fixed for trial he withdrew his
plea of not guilty, and plead guilty of
manslaughter, in order to avoid the
narrowing recitals that must come out
in trial, prefering to undergo the
penalty for manslaughter rather than
TO have these recitals made to the pub
lie and be acquitted. The plea was ac-
cepted, and DR.. Ford was sentenced
last Monday, by Judge Roman to fine
of fifty cents, including costs, and to
imprisonment for fifteen years in the
penitentiary. The maximum limit for
manslaughter is a fine not exceeding
$4,000, and Imprisonment not exceed
ing twenty years. Of course efforts are
on foot to have DR.. Ford pardoned, for
he has many friends, and the sympathy
of nearly everybody.
DR.. Ford probably made two mis-
takes in this affair: one was in killing
kirkpatrick at all !; and the other, if he
must kill him, that he did not do so at
Shreveport, when he first discovered
the criminal intimacy, which would
have made the case really manslaugh
ter, and he would have been tried in
his own city and readily acquitted.
The inside facts of the case have not
been brought out by trial, and it is
not publicly known whether the first
step towards criminal intimacy was
first made by the man or by the woman
in this case. AS a rule, in such unfor-
tunate affairs, the first move is made by
the married woman and one thing is
certain, if married woman resents, as
every virtuous married woman will
surely do, any improper conduct on the
part of a man, no. criminal intimacy
will follow. 1t is impossible that
married woman should be led astraN,
without the corresponding desire on her
part; and in many instances she seeks
the opportunity.
A case similar to the Ford kirkpa-
trick affair is now on trial in Nashville.
One young man kills another, very
much as Ford killed kirkpatrick, on
account of an alleged slanderous re-
port of criminal intimacy with his mar
ried sister who was much older than
the young man killed. On the trial the
evidence of her own love letters, and
the testimony of the mother of the de-
ceased showed that she had pursued
and led the young man astray, and not
lie her: if only one deserved killing,
the woman, and not the man, should
have been killed.
One thing will certainly be admitted
no virtuous married woman needs |
forcible protection against anyone but
a ruffian. II she is not what she should
be, there are but two courses to confine
her, or to cast her OFT. To kill the men
she lures, does not stop the evil, nor re-
move the disgrace, but adds crime to
the burden Of sorrow. Is DR.. Ford any
happier than he was before he killed
kirkpatrick Are his children any
freer from the shame of their mothers |
guilt Has he not lost time from his
business Has he not suffered from
Has he not wasted
means that could have been used to
better purpose Aud for what He
las committed great crime. for the
AXE of worthlessEwoman; he has ex-
,esed the matter to the whole world.
which but fer his own crime would
,ave been confined to the knowledge Of
lis neighbors, and he has gained a
eloE's name with the sentence to fif-
cen years at hard labor in the peni-
this for lewd woman
whom he had long before cast off.
Some allege that the marriage rela-
ion, Woman's virtue, etc, have been
the marriage relation was
estroyed by the woman herself, and
he had no virtue to vlpdicate. That is
strange kind OF virtue that requires
be protection of pistols and shot guns
civilized community. Is it to be t
lferred that men must stand guard |
yer their wives with firearms? Would :
OF the Moslem plan of confinement be ;